THE BOROUGH OF SUTTON COLDFIELD
The municipal borough of Sutton Coldfield is
situated about half-way between Birmingham and
Lichfield, along the main road joining these two places.
It covers an area of about 13,978 acres, of which more
than 2,400 acres are occupied by Sutton Park, an area
of natural moorland, heath, and woodland, lying to the
west of the town, and including several large pools and
three ancient wells. The park is crossed by part of
Rycknield Street and by other paths and roads. Running
through Sutton Coldfield from north to south is an
outcrop of Lower Keuper sandstone, limited on either
side by faults, which forms a prominent ridge, followed
for the most part by the main Birmingham-Lichfield
road. To the west are extensive deposits of Bunter
Pebble Beds and underlying Hopwas Breccia, which
give rise to the open moorland country of Sutton Park.
To the east the principal rock is Keuper Marl, but
much of the solid rock is masked by extensive sheets of
superficial boulder clay and sandy and gravelly material (fn. 1)
which is quarried for road metal and building purposes.
There are numerous springs in the park and many wells
down to 50 ft. in depth in the borough, but most of the
water now used in Sutton comes from wells and boreholes sunk in the New Red Sandstone and Pebble Beds
in the Streetly district by the South Staffordshire
Waterworks Company, and pumped to a service
reservoir at Barr Beacon. (fn. 2)
The older part of the town consists of a main street,
over a mile in length, extending from Maney to beyond
the parish church of Holy Trinity, which occupies a
commanding position on a hill spur, some 400 ft. above
sea-level, overlooking the well-defined valley of Plant's
Brook, which flows eventually into the Tame. Most of
the older houses are built of local, mellow bricks, and
some have foundations and quoins of local red sandstone.
In 1778, as a result of local agitation, the first scheme
for inclosing the commons was put forward, but was
rejected by the Warden and Society in April 1778, (fn. 3)
and it was not until 1824 that an Act was passed permitting inclosures from the commons, wastes, and open
fields in Sutton Coldfield. (fn. 4) The Corporation then
acquired about 300 acres (fn. 5) and more than 3,500 acres
appear to have been inclosed and put under cultivation. (fn. 6)
By 1762 the population of Sutton Coldfield was
about 1,800, (fn. 7) and by 1831 it had reached 3,684. (fn. 8)
In 1891 it was 8,685, in 1901, 14,264, (fn. 9) and in 1931,
29,928. Between this date and 1935 it had increased
to about 33,000. (fn. 10) The area of the borough at the date
of its incorporation, 1885, was 12,828 acres. This
was extended in 1927 to include part of Perry Barr
(351 acres) and in 1930 to include part of Great Barr
and Shenstone (44 acres) also in Staffordshire. When
the boundaries of Birmingham and Sutton were
adjusted, following the Local Government Act of
1929, part of the parish of Minworth (758½ acres)
was transferred to Sutton from Curdworth. (fn. 11)
Maney and Walmley, originally hamlets of Sutton
Coldfield, were formed into separate ecclesiastical
parishes in 1907 and 1846, respectively. (fn. 12) The district
of Hill (which with Little Sutton had early been given
either wholly or in part to the Staffordshire priory of
Canwell) (fn. 13) was created an ecclesiastical parish in 1853
with its church at Mere Green, and from it, in 1920,
was carved the parish of Four Oaks. (fn. 14) Boldmere parish
was created in 1857 (fn. 15) and Wylde Green was separated
from it in 1923. (fn. 16) Another district of Sutton Coldfield
was Ashfurlong. (fn. 17) Four Oaks Hall (see below) was
built by Elizabeth, elder co-heiress of George Pudsey
of Langley (q.v.), on land that formed part of her
inheritance, (fn. 18) and the estate, Four Oaks Park, was
bought in 1880 by a limited company to be used as
a racecourse. Races are, however, no longer held and
the land has been sold for building purposes. (fn. 19)
In 1792 the corporation paved the streets of Sutton
Coldfield with cobble-stones at the cost of £350, and
the high roads to Canwell and from Chester Road to
Watford Gap were placed under trustees and tollgates were erected. By 1827, 24 coaches a day passed
through the town. (fn. 20) There was much local opposition
to the construction of the railway, and especially to
the line passing through Sutton Park, but in 1860
Sutton Coldfield was linked by railway to Birmingham. (fn. 21) The borough is now served by two branches
of the L.M.S. Railway. The section running from
Birmingham to Lichfield has stations at Chester Road,
Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks, and Blake
Street, while the Walsall and Wolverhampton branch
has stations at Sutton Park for excursion traffic, and
also at Penns, for Walmley. (fn. 22)
Apart from New Hall and Moor House Farm there
are few buildings of interest in the town and parish.
The oldest street is the High Street running northwards
from the church. It contains mostly 18th-century and
later fronts, but it is probable that a few of the buildings
have older interiors. On the east side towards the north
end is a 17th-century (former) farm-house partly built
of red sandstone and partly of brick. It has two
gabled wings on the west front, a middle gabled porchwing, and an original chimney-stack.
White House Farm, at the crossing of Rectory Road
and Whitehouse Common Road, is a 17th-century
farm-house with red sandstone rubble walls, facing
west; at the back are a few original stone windows.
On the north side of the Coleshill Road, about ½ mile
south-east of the church, is a late-16th-century cottage
showing one angle-post of former timber-framing in the
18th-century brick front, and a central chimney-stack
with the remains of two original star-shaped shafts
of thin bricks and later heightening.
Erdington Road, running south to Birmingham, is
now mainly a modern thoroughfare, but a few buildings
near the church show vestiges of early-18th-century
brickwork. At Maney, about ½ mile south of the parish
church, on the west side of the road, is a timber-framed
cottage of c. 1600 with curved braces below the eaves.
Near it, south of the road eastward to Walmley, is an
early-16th-century house of two stories facing north,
with walls of red sandstone rubble and ashlar dressings
and a tiled roof. The middle doorway has a four-centred head. The windows, once mullioned, retain
their stone lintels but now have lowered sills and are
fitted with wood frames. At the back is a blocked
arched doorway and altered windows. The gable-ends
have chimney-stacks—the western, of original stonework, being corbelled out at first-floor level. The
ceilings are open-timbered, with chamfered main
beams. It was formerly a farm-house and has a large
18th-century brick barn.
Moor Hall, the home of Bishop Veysey, has now
been replaced by a modern building, but Moor Hall
Farm, his reputed birth-place, is a small rectangular
house of two stories and attics with walls of red sandstone ashlar and a tiled roof; it faces south. At the west
end is a lower extension. The main front has square-headed windows of two pointed lights to both stories,
and a segmental-headed doorway. There is also a
small round-headed light to the first-floor closet south
of the central chimney-stack. In the roof are gabled
dormers. The gable-ends have old stone copings; the
chimney-stack in each end wall is of the 18th century
or later. At the back are a blocked doorway, one
original window, and others altered. In the middle is
the original stair-vice, of semi-octagonal projection.
The plan has only two rooms on each floor, with the
central chimney-stack between them. This has a wide
stone fire-place towards the west room with a chamfered oak lintel, and on the first floor an arched fireplace towards the east chamber. The ceilings are
open-timbered and have stop-chamfered main beams.
There are ancient timbers in the gabled roof but no
distinctive medieval framing. There are also several
17th-century panelled doors. The lower west extension of similar masonry is as old. It has a modern
arched doorway and windows, but seems to have been
lighted originally by tiny lancets, of which two remain
(glazed) in the lower story and others blocked to the
upper story. An ancient roof truss has a tie-beam and
curved collar-beam.
At Little Sutton, about ½ mile north of Moor Hall
Farm, is a renovated red-sandstone cottage which may
be nearly as old. A small timber-framed barn stands
east of it. At Hill, north of Mere Green, is a hamlet
on what was probably the ancient road to Lichfield
before the straight road farther west was made at a
lower level. It has a number of early-18th-century
brick cottages, &c., and one at the corner of Butlers
Lane which shows an early-17th-century central
chimney-stack. Another farther north has a barn with
some ancient timber-framing.
In the south-east quarter of the parish are several
old buildings.
Warrenhouse Farm, ½ mile north of Walmley, is of
two stories with rough-casted walls. The main block
facing east and west has a 17th-century central chimneystack with two square shafts having a square pilaster on
each face and at the south end a projecting chimneystack with a heavy buttress of red sandstone. A red
brick middle wing on the east side has a stone inscribed
1671 M M.
New Shipton Farm, ¼ mile south-west of the last,
is a late-17th-century brick house but has an older
timber-framed barn.
'Wincelle', west of it, is a timber-framed house recently rebuilt with 17th-century material said to have
been brought from Wiggins Hill. (fn. 23) The Mill House,
a little farther north-west just off the road from Wylde
Green to Walmley, is an 18th-century brick house with
a lower wing that shows some ancient timber-framing.
A cottage, at the bend of the same road west of the mill,
is another of the local buildings of c. 1600 of red
sandstone rubble with ashlar angle-dressings and
original stone mullioned windows; the doorway has a
triangular head.
The church of St. John the Evangelist at Walmley
is built in the 12th-century style with blue-brick walls
and red sandstone dressings. Langley Hall, 1½ miles
north-east of the church, is an 18th-century brick
house with stone dressings. Near it are the remains of a
medieval moat.
Peddimore Hall, 1 mile south of Langley Hall, is a
building of c. 1660 of two parallel conjoined ranges
facing west, of red brick with red sandstone angle-dressings and moulded plinth. The front has a middle
stone doorway with a pediment inscribed DEVS NOSTER
REFVGIVM. The front windows have been modernized,
but there are old mullioned and transomed windows
to the east block. The building is surrounded by a
moat crossed by a bridge. Some of the farm-buildings
are timber-framed.
Wiggins Hill Farm, ¾ mile south-east, is an L-shaped
house facing north, of which the lower story is of early-17th-century brickwork with red sandstone quoins and
a stone chamfered plinth. The upper story is of late-17th-century brickwork and has curvilinear ('Dutch')
gable-heads. At the back is an early-17th-century
brick chimney-stack. Just north of it is an early-17th-century cottage with remains of original timber-framing and a rebuilt central chimney.
New Hall stands about a mile south-east of the parish
church, surrounded by a rectangular moat that washes
the walls on three sides and incloses a garden to the
west. (fn. 24) The house is said to date from the 13th or
14th century. Although there are no windows or
other architectural features to verify this, the greywhite masonry of the walls of the west range and south
wing is certainly very ancient. These formed an
L-shaped plan to which, late in the 16th century, the
north wing, containing the great Banqueting Hall, was
added, approximately to match the other, but all of red
sandstone. The main stair-hall against it is also of the
same period and material. The one-storied wing west
of the Hall is probably of a little later date; it is of red
and grey stone. A narrow wing north of it was added
probably early in the 17th century: it was of two stories
but was heightened to form a high tower in 1796, when
a good deal of alteration and enlargement was carried
out. The modern enlargements are mostly of 1870,
the date inscribed on part of the west front.
The south-east wing containing the Dining Room
has walls of grey-white stonework, probably 13th or
14th century. The plinth and two or three courses
above it are of ashlar (perhaps later repair) the remainder of weatherworn rubble, mostly squared stones,
with ashlar angle-dressings. The gabled east end has a
coping and apex pinnacle of later red stone. The
ground-floor window is modern (1796?) 'Gothic' set
in a former wider opening of which the straight joints
remain. The side windows of the Dining Rooms are
similar. The square-headed windows of the second
and third stories, the former with transoms, appear to
be insertions, of the 16th or 17th century. The north
side, towards the courtyard, has a projecting chimneystack of red stone, with a moulded stone fire-place of
the late 17th century. The south side has a larger
square projection. Of this the plinth is of 16th-century
brick with stone quoins and was probably the base
of a Tudor chimney-stack. The upper part for two
stories is mainly of later brickwork with white stone
quoins, the chimney-stack being converted into a
square bay when the late-17th-century fire-place was
made in the opposite wall. The bay was widened in
1796 on the west side, and a third story was added
above the whole widened bay to form a low tower
above the roof with a still higher square turret (fourth
story) above the newer part. This work is of brickwork
with red stone quoins and 'Gothic' windows, and has
embattled parapets. It has carved stones—shields with
monograms CS and [CC?] and date 1796, the Sacheverell
arms, and the motto EN BON FOY.

NEW HALL SUTTON COLDFIELD
The walls of the west range are of similar masonry
and date to the south wing. It contains the Hall, the
east side of which has a fire-place and chimney-stack
like the Dining Room and north of it the moulded red
stone entrance from the east courtyard, probably of the
same period: the lintel is carved with a shield of nine
quarters and the same motto. The south end stops
7 or 8 ft. short of the south wall of the wing. It is a
thick wall and has a three-light square-headed window
in red stone of late-16th-century insertion. East of it
a straight staircase, probably of 1796, is built against
the west wall of the south wing. Over the south-west
angle is a corbelled-out modern chimney-stack to the
second story. This story has walls of similar masonry
with restored windows. A third story is of modern grey
stone with red stone windows and an embattled parapet
dated 1870. Against most of the west side of the Hall
and almost flush with its south wall is a late-16th-century one-storied wing of coursed red and grey stone
walling, original red stone moulded windows, and an
embattled grey stone parapet. The whole of the wing
is open to the Hall. A courtyard about 9 ft. wide
between this and the tower has an entrance to the Hall.
The two lowest stories of the tower are of old red
sandstone rubble, probably early-17th-century. The
upper three stories are of red brick with stone dressings,
dated 1796. The top story is more modern and has
an embattled parapet. The range north of this is
modern, but the part at the north end has more of the
1796 brickwork.
The northern wing, containing the Banqueting Hall
in the second story with a kitchen, &c., below, is a late-16th-century addition, equal in width and projection
to the south wing. The walls are of red sandstone
coursed rough ashlar. The gabled east end, of three
stories, has a bay-window to the second story carried on
moulded corbeiling above a smaller three-sided projection. In the north side are two bay-windows,
similar but to both stories. Another bay on the south
side has its west splay cut off square by the stair-hall.
All have embattled parapets behind which are gables in
the main walls with mullioned windows to the third
story. The north chimney-stack has two late-16th-century brick shafts of star-shaped plan. The lower
story of the stair-hall is contemporary, with an original
south window, but the upper story is modern.
The Banqueting Hall has a fine ribbed ceiling
divided into panels with decorative centres of foliage,
grapes, scroll patterns, faces, and one shield with the
Sacheverell arms. The frieze of the cornice is treated
with raised ornament with goats (the Sacheverell crest)
and sea monsters, &c. The walls are lined with late-16th-century panelling with fluted and scaled pilasters
at the angles of the bays and flanking the fire-place,
which has an overmantel of plain panelling. The
windows are glazed with small leaded quarries in a
distinctive geometrical pattern. The ground floor of
the wing was undoubtedly all one chamber originally,
but is now divided up into the kitchen, &c. In place of
the original fire-place in the north wall is now a window;
a new fire-place was inserted at the west end. The
ceiling has old chamfered beams.
The entrance hall and the chamber north of it, in the
west range, are lined with c. 1600 oak panelling, and
the chamber is entered by a 16th-century doorway
from the passage between it and the main staircase
east of it. The staircase is ancient from ground to first
floor and modern above. It has square panelled 6½-in.
newels with moulded caps and bases, heavy handrails,
and sloping pierced balustrades of strap work and
scroll carving. On the tops of the newels, except the
lowest, are carved wood figures; the two on the half-landings are a griffin sitting up on its haunches, painted
red and gold, and a crowned lion (painted black) also
sitting upright and holding a shield painted with the
quartered Sacheverell arms. That on the first floor is a
goat holding a pennon-like shield. Although the upper
newels are modern, the figures on them appear to be
old: on the half-landings are a bear and ragged staff
and a lion, and at the top a unicorn. The griffin and
both lions are provided with later tails of iron. (fn. 25)
Other rooms have panelling and chamfered beams.
North-east of the house, just outside the moat, is a
two-storied building, about 25 ft. by 18 ft., with walls
of scabbled squared rubble. It has been used as a stable,
but the sizes of the windows suggest that it was built
in the 17th century for other uses—possibly a chapel.
The east window is of three square-headed lights—two
blocked—and above it is an old taller window of two
lights. The stone doorway in the middle of the south
side has a segmental arched lintel and a range of four
dwarf lights over it. Both doorway and head-lights are
blocked with 18th-century brickwork. The north wall
had also three bull's-eye windows over the long manger,
now walled up. A little farther east is a 17th-century
cottage of brick on stone rubble foundations. The east
entrance to the grounds, on the Walmley road, has gateposts of 18th-century stone and brick with moulded
caps and stone ball-heads.
MANOR
In Edward the Confessor's time the
manor of SUTTON was held by Earl
Edwin of Mercia, and in 1086 by William
I. (fn. 26) It remained in the possession of the Crown until
Henry I exchanged it with Roger, 2nd Earl of Warwick
(d. 1153), for the manors of Oakham and Langham,
co. Rutland. (fn. 27) After this Sutton descended for some
time with the earldom of Warwick.
The manor was granted in dower in 1242 to Ela
daughter of William de Longespee and widow of
Thomas, 6th Earl of Warwick, (fn. 28)
and confirmed, as the manor of
SUTTON-IN-COLDFIELD,
to her and her second husband,
Sir Philip Basset, in 1265 by
William Maudit, the next earl. (fn. 29)
The countess was granted free
warren in the manor in 1251 (fn. 30)
but exchanged Sutton in 1287
with William de Beauchamp,
then earl, for the manor of
Spilsbury in Oxfordshire. (fn. 31)
Meanwhile, in 1285 the earl's
prescriptive right to court leet, with assize of bread
and beer, free chace, infangthef, tumbril, team, waif,
and gallows, had been recognized, (fn. 32) and in 1309 the
customs of the manor were very fully set out as the
result of an inquiry held before the lord's steward. (fn. 33)

Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. Gules a fesse between six crosslets or.
During the minority of Thomas, son of Guy de
Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick (d. 1315), (fn. 34) the manor
of Sutton was in the hands of successive custodians,
some appointed by the Crown and some by Guy's
executors, all paying an annual farm of £24 0s. 3¾d. at
the Exchequer. (fn. 35) Thomas was given livery in 1329 (fn. 36)
and in 1344 made a settlement on himself and his wife
Katherine (daughter of Roger Mortimer) and their
heirs in tail male. (fn. 37) He was succeeded in 1370 by his
eldest surviving son Thomas, (fn. 38) who as one of the Lords
Appellant was deprived of his possessions by the king
in 1397, when Sutton Coldfield was among his lands
given to Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent. (fn. 39) After the
deposition and death of Richard II Thomas, Earl of
Warwick, was restored in 1400 to his honours (fn. 40) but
died in 1401. (fn. 41) When his grandson Henry, Duke of
Warwick, died in 1446, (fn. 42) the king appropriated all
the profits of his lands during the minority of the heir
for the expenses of the royal household. (fn. 43) Henry's
daughter Anne died in 1449 (fn. 44) and the estates of the
earldom passed to her aunt Anne, sister of the late earl
and wife of Richard Nevill, afterwards known as
Warwick the King-maker. (fn. 45) Nevill was attainted in
1459, and in 1460 the manor and lordship of Sutton
Coldfield, with park, chase, and waters, were leased for
10 years by Henry VI to his sergeant Edmund Mountfort. (fn. 46) Nevill soon regained his power and his lands,
but after his death, in 1471, his lands were taken from
his wife and settled on their two daughters and their
respective husbands. (fn. 47) The lordship of Sutton went
to the elder, Isabel, who died seised of it in 1476
leaving an infant son Edward. (fn. 48) Her husband George,
Duke of Clarence, created Earl of Warwick in 1472,
was attainted and executed early in 1478, and for some
years Sutton Coldfield, with other lands of the earldom,
was in the king's hands because of the minority of the
heir. (fn. 49) In 1487, however, Henry VII restored the
lands of the earldom to Anne, Countess of Warwick,
widow of the King-maker, since both her daughters
were dead. (fn. 50) Anne straightway conveyed these lands
to the Crown, (fn. 51) but in 1489 received back Sutton
Coldfield, with other manors, for life, with all issues
from Michaelmas 1487. (fn. 52) Anne was dead by 23
December 1492, (fn. 53) and the manor then remained
with the Crown till the incorporation of the borough
in 1528. (fn. 54)
BOROUGH
By the early 16th century the township of Sutton Coldfield had fallen into
decay, (fn. 55) but through the interest of
John Veysey alias Harman, Bishop of Exeter, a native
of the place, (fn. 56) Henry VIII was induced on 16 December 1528 to incorporate the inhabitants, by the name
of the Warden and Society of the Royal Town of
Sutton Coldfield, and grant
them his town, manor, or lordship, free chase and park of
Sutton Coldfield at an annual
farm of £58. (fn. 57)

Borough of Sutton Coldfield. Argent a cross sable with a stag's head between four doves argent thereon with a mitre in the quarter and a chief vert with two stags or at speed therein.
The charter named Bishop
Veysey's brother-in-law, William
Gibbons of New Hall (q.v.), as
first warden, (fn. 58) to hold office
until the following All Souls'
Day, on which date a new
warden was to be elected
annually from among the fellowship of 24, who were to be
chosen, for life, from among
the most discreet inhabitants
of the town. (fn. 59) The warden was
to act as clerk of the market
(see below) and as coroner within the town, whilst
the warden and fellowship were granted return of
writs; courts leet and view of frankpledge twice a
year held before a steward appointed by them, and
learned in the laws of England; a weekly court on
Mondays (to be held before the warden or the
steward or his deputy) (fn. 60) in the Mote Hall which should
be provided for such purposes (or in some other suitable
place). (fn. 61) The warden and society might make statutes,
&c., for the township; they might erect a prison; and
for the execution of summonses of the court and to
attend on themselves they might elect one or two
serjeants-at-mace. The steward might be elected for
life or for a term of years at the will of the corporation,
and might do his work himself or by a deputy.
All rents and profits of the town or lordship were
henceforth to be collected by the warden and society,
who were enjoined to use them for the relief of poor
inhabitants of the town. (fn. 62) The inhabitants themselves
might freely hunt, fish, and fowl in the chase with dogs,
bows, and arrows, and further, any inhabitant might
build a house in the waste of the manor and inclose up
to 60 acres, paying a fee-farm rent of 2d. an acre
to the corporation. (fn. 63)
The corporation, as lords of the manor and free
chase of Sutton Coldfield, were bound, eventually, to
pay to the Crown the annual rent of £58, but the whole
amount did not fall due until the expiry or surrender
of the patents of various officials of the manor, appointed by the Crown, whose salaries were a charge on
the manor. (fn. 64) The corporation were liable, however,
immediately for a rent of £9, with £5 increase for all
woods of the manor. A further £11 would fall due
on the expiry of a lease of the herbage of the park for
21 years (Mich. 1520–41), then held by Ludowic
Wynewode. (fn. 65) They were released from £16 2s. 11½d.
a year, which they had to pay as salary to Walter
Devereux, Lord Ferrers of Chartley, for his life for
offices that the king had granted to him and to his son
Henry for the life of the longer liver on 11 February
1525. (fn. 66) These offices comprised those of bailiff of the
manor, (fn. 67) keeper of the park (fn. 68) and of Coldfield Walk, (fn. 69)
with a further £5 19s. 0½d. payable to him as steward. (fn. 70)
Another £5 6s. 2d. was payable to William Rigley so
long as he was keeper of the chase of Hillwood, (fn. 71) and
keeper of the vert and venison of the outwoods of
Linridge; (fn. 72) and £3 0s. 2d., with an increase of
£2 11s. 2d. due after the death of John Welsbourne,
keeper of the woods. (fn. 73)
The duty of the steward of the manor, both before
1528 when he was appointed by the Crown (fn. 74) and after
1528 when he was appointed by the corporation, was
to hold courts, though this duty was performed, at
least after the Charter of Incorporation, by deputies
who were lawyers. (fn. 75) Walter Devereux, Lord Ferrers
of Chartley, may have continued to receive his fee as
steward until his death in 1558, (fn. 76) but in 1547 the
corporation appointed John Throckmorton. (fn. 77) His
successors were Henry Goodere (1582), Richard
Reppington (1595), Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex
(1612), Richard Newdigate (1646), (fn. 78) Thomas Thynne,
M.P., afterwards Viscount Weymouth (1679), (fn. 79) and
the first four Lords Middleton in succession (1714–74).
After them, the 3rd Lord Weymouth, later Marquess
of Bath (1781), was succeeded in 1796 by his son-in-law, Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford, and he by
the 6th Lord Middleton (1812), the 5th Earl of
Aylesford (1835), Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh (who held
office from 1859 to 1882, and from 1902 to 1905),
Sir Benjamin Stone, M.P., of Erdington (1905), Sir
Francis Newdigate-Newdegate (1925), and Colonel
Sir Henry Fairfax-Lucy (1936). (fn. 80)
Complaints of maladministration by the warden and
corporation and of abuse of their privileges soon arose,
and when Thomas Kene (alias Keene), warden in
1548–9, was alleged to have misappropriated corporation funds, the defence of his executors was that all
wardens had kept surplus rents and profits for themselves and had not turned them to charitable uses. (fn. 81)
Thomas Gibbons, warden, and others were charged
in 1581 with having appropriated between 600 and
700 acres of land to their own use at the rent of 2d. an
acre, and stocked the park with strangers' cattle,
spoiled woods, and inclosed land. (fn. 82) After further
complaints of the wasting of woods, the sale of the
manor-house, and the appropriation of profits in 1617,
it was decreed that the yearly rents must be applied to
the charitable uses named in the charter of 1528 and
for the purposes of the free Grammar School. (fn. 83) Eventually, 'for the improvement of the town and the
amendment of evils' a new charter was granted by
Charles II on 27 July 1664. (fn. 84) This confirmed Henry
VIII's Letters Patent of 1528, but provided further
for the appointment of two of the society as capital
burgesses to hold office for life (George Pudsey and
Henry his son being nominated by the Crown as the
first holders) and to act with the warden as justices of
the peace. (fn. 85) They were given authority to enforce
statutes concerning vagabonds, artificers, and labourers,
and also concerning weights and measures, but they
might not, without special mandate, concern themselves with cases involving treason, felony, murder, or
loss of life or limb. (fn. 86) The warden of the town for ever
was allowed to carry a white staff. (fn. 87) The Monday
court was continued and no minister or servant of the
Crown might meddle with the affairs of the town and
manor, provided that every officer of the town (including the deputy steward), before taking office, took an
oath of obedience and the Oath of Supremacy, and was
approved by the Crown. (fn. 88)
There were still complaints of maladministration (fn. 89)
until in April 1885 the government of the town was
reorganized (under the provisions of the Municipal
Corporations Act of 1882) and the parish of Sutton
Coldfield was created a municipal borough. (fn. 90) The
old corporation was dissolved, their charitable funds
were vested in eight trustees and all their other property
in the new corporation, which consisted of a mayor,
six aldermen, and eighteen councillors, popularly
elected. (fn. 91) The six wards of the town created by this
charter were Holy Trinity, Hill, Boldmere, Wylde
Green, Maney, and Walmley, (fn. 92) but in 1935 the
Boldmere ward was divided into Boldmere East and
Boldmere West, and one alderman and three councillors
were added to the council. (fn. 93)
The corporation received a grant of arms in 1935. (fn. 94)
MARKETS AND FAIRS
In 1300 the king granted
to Guy de Beauchamp, Earl
of Warwick, a weekly market
on Tuesdays, and an annual fair on the eve and feast
of the Holy Trinity and the two days following. (fn. 95) It
has been conjectured that this Tuesday market fell
into abeyance, (fn. 96) because in 1353 a charter was granted
to Thomas, Earl of Warwick, to hold a market on this
same day, with fairs on the eve, feast, and morrow of
Holy Trinity and on the eve and feast of St. Martin
(10 and 11 Nov.). (fn. 97) Again both market and fairs would
seem to have lapsed, for in 1519 the inhabitants of Sutton
Coldfield were given licence to hold a market on Mondays, with one fair on the eve, day, and morrow of
Holy Trinity and another on the morrow of SS. Crispin and Crispinian and the eve and day of SS. Simon
and Jude (i.e. 26–8 Oct.). (fn. 98) These were confirmed in
1528 when the town was incorporated, and when the
newly constituted warden was empowered to act as
clerk of the market. (fn. 99) He was forbidden to exact any
tolls from persons attending this market. (fn. 100)
By the first half of the 18th century the fairs again
appear to have fallen into disuse, (fn. 101) but in 1757 fairs are
noted for 8 November and Trinity Monday in Rider's
List of Fairs, (fn. 102) and these continued at least until 1850. (fn. 103)
By 1850, a market was still held on Mondays, for cattle,
sheep, and pedlary, (fn. 104) and this continued at least until
1902. (fn. 105) From 1897 to 1902 stock sales for cattle, sheep,
and pigs were held at Sutton Coldfield on the first
Tuesday in every month, (fn. 106) but in 1903 the date was
altered to alternate Mondays. (fn. 107) An auction market for
live stock and poultry is now held on alternate Tuesdays,
and a general market every Saturday. (fn. 108)
By 1900 two fair days had been added to the former
8 November and Trinity Monday, namely 14 March
and 19 September, (fn. 109) but all these have now lapsed.
CHASE AND PARK
In 1086 there was woodland 2 leagues long by 1
league broad attached to
the royal manor of Sutton (fn. 110) and this became the free
chase of Sutton, with the park and free hay and foreign
wood, lying between the rivers Tame and Bourne. (fn. 111) At
the death of William de Beauchamp, in 1298, its bounds
ran from Salford Bridge by Perry Barr and Barr Beacon
to the source of the Bourne Brook (otherwise Black
Brook), following this to its junction with the Tame
at Drayton, and back to Salford Bridge. (fn. 112) It thus
took in a south-eastern corner of Staffordshire, where
it extended at least into the manors of Drayton Bassett,
Weeford (with the hamlet of Thickbroom), and Hints,
in all of which places the Earls of Warwick granted
rights to impark or hunt. (fn. 113) The boundary between
the two counties was marked by the 'Rugeway', which
ran through that part of the chase known as Coldfield. (fn. 114)
Within the county of Warwick the chase extended
beyond the bounds of the manor of Sutton Coldfield.
Thus Berewood in Minworth was administered a spart
of the lordship of Sutton at least until Michaelmas
1529, (fn. 115) while 100 acres of wood and waste in Sutton
Chase pertained to the manor of Middleton. (fn. 116) In 1315
there pertained to Sutton manor and lordship a park,
inclosed and fenced, containing a fish-pond, with a
wood called La Lee (now Ley Hill), a close called 'Sidehalehaye', and an outwood in which was a free chase
with beasts and underwood. (fn. 117) By the later 15th
century there was the outwood of Lindridge and the
wood of Hillwood, each with a lodge and its own
keeper, (fn. 118) and the bailiwick of Coldfield Walk (fn. 119) as well
as the park. (fn. 120)
In 1289 the Earl of Warwick was given licence for
life to follow deer started in his free chase into the royal
forest of Cannock (co. Staffs.), there to kill them and
to carry them away. (fn. 121)
A few days before the first charter of incorporation
of Sutton Coldfield, that is to say on 7 December 1528,
the king's surveyor of woods agreed to sell to John
Harman alias Veysey, Bishop of Exeter, all the oaks
and other large timber growing within the lordship,
manor, park, and chase, for £500. (fn. 122) This bargain had
not been carried out, however, by May 1530, when
the surveyors reserved to themselves the right to dispose
of the premises more advantageously before the end
of the next month. (fn. 123) But Bishop Veysey is held responsible for the destruction of the chase 'for the benefit of the Poor, who for xxd. per an. had keeping for
their Cows'. (fn. 124) Further he inclosed all the coppices
called the Seven Hays and set up gates and locks to
them, stored the park with mares, colts, and horses, and
twice gave money for ditching and quick-setting it. (fn. 125)
He also gave a meadow for hay for the benefit of poor
widows. (fn. 126)
After the park and chase had come to the corporation
the felling and sale of timber was frequently a source of
waste and dishonest dealing. (fn. 127) In 1790, after an inquiry instigated by the inhabitants into the revenues of
the corporation, the Court of Chancery ordered timber
to be felled and the money used for schools and almshouses. (fn. 128) In 1826 timber worth £1,116 3s. was sold. (fn. 129)
An inquiry in 1835 showed that other smaller sales of
timber had been made subsequently, that timber was
felled by a member of the society, without public
tender, and that timber had also 'been sold from time
to time to the party in question; but he has not accounted to the corporation since 1826'. (fn. 130) Moreover,
excessive timber was cut, from time to time, for the
fencing of the park and inclosures. (fn. 131)
The area of the park in 1835 was about 2,100 acres
of which from 300 to 400 acres were wood and 20–30
acres water. (fn. 132) At the present time it covers upwards of
2,400 acres. (fn. 133)
POOLS AND MILLS
Tradition maintained that
from the time of King Athelstan there had been a watermill in the manor of Sutton and a windmill in Maney,
both belonging to the lord of the manor. (fn. 134) A mill and
a preserve with the mill-pond pertained to the manor
of Sutton in 1298 (fn. 135) and 1315, (fn. 136) and a fishery and fishponds were mentioned in 1370, (fn. 137) but the construction
of five pools, all with 'great and costly heads of stone',
is attributed to Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick,
in Henry V's day. (fn. 138) Four of these were leased in about
1420 by Henry V, for life at a rent of £10 a year or
120 bream, to Sir Ralph Bracebridge of Kingsbury (fn. 139)
(who may have been responsible for the creation of
Bracebridge Pool). (fn. 140) By Michaelmas 1510 four pools
were held at farm by William Vampage, who was still
holding them for 40s. a year at Michaelmas 1527. (fn. 141)
From 1525 to at least 1546 Walter Devereux, Lord
Ferrers, received 40s. a year fee as keeper of fisheries
and pools in the manor. (fn. 142)
By the mid-16th century four pools in the manor had
been drained and turned into good meadow-ground;
a fifth lay 'against the west end of the parish church of
Sutton', and had a head, formed of a strong wall of stone,
which served for a way into the town. (fn. 143) Through an
arch in this wall flowed a brook that drove a mill. (fn. 144)
These pools had been known as Mill Pool, Cross Pool,
Wyndle Pool, Keeper's Pool, and Bracebridge Pool.
Subsequently, Bracebridge Pool, described as 'a
parcel of land within our pasture called the Park', was
granted in 1577 by the warden and society (in consideration of two horses and a mare) to Richard Barlowe
of that town, to dig up and dam and make a pond there,
and to erect a blade-mill or a fulling-mill. (fn. 145) This pool
is said to have been held by Sir Francis Willoughby in
1641. (fn. 146) Powell's Pool, described in the 19th century
as the largest in the parish, is believed to have been
granted originally to a member of the Gibbons family
who embanked it, (fn. 147) while Langley Mill Pool was
leased by the corporation in 1604 to Edward Pudsey
for a rent of 5s. (fn. 148) In 1697 the corporation allowed
William Jesson of Langley Hall (q.v.) to add to Lindridge Pool and, in return for making a dam, to hold it
for 100 years. (fn. 149) John Riland was permitted in 1733 to
make a dam and a pool across Longmoor Brook in the
park, and in 1754, along with his co-tenant of half the
pool, to build a mill there and have a lease for 63 years. (fn. 150)
Blackroot Pool appears to have been constructed in
about 1757 by Edward Homer and Joseph Duncomb,
who had a lease for 42 years, (fn. 151) though a lease for 30
years was given by the corporation in 1772 to Thomas
Ingram. (fn. 152) Round 1860 the pool was leased by S. F. S.
and W. S. Perkins. (fn. 153) Mere Pool was leased in 1782
to Henry Curzon, but in 1826 the larger part was
converted into gardens for the Hill corporation schools,
and it was by 1860 a small pond. (fn. 154) At the present time
the most considerable pools are Powell's (with Stone
House Mill), Windley, Blackroot, Bracebridge, the
ponds of Longmoor and Hill Hook Mills, Langley
Pool, Lindridge Pool, and the pools at Moor Hall and
New Hall.
Two water-mills within the park, with waters and
ponds pertaining to them, were already at farm to
William Weston by Michaelmas 1510, (fn. 155) and he was
still paying 100s. rent for these at Michaelmas 1536. (fn. 156)
Three water-mills were conveyed in 1576, along with
the manor-place, by Thomas Kene and Sybil his wife
to Thomas Gybons and Humphrey Chatterton. (fn. 157) In
1585 John Bull and Sybil his wife made a conveyance
or settlement of one water-fulling mill and two watermills called blade-mills to Edward Sprott, with warranty against Sybil's heirs, (fn. 158) while in 1588 Humphrey
Kene conveyed two fulling-mills and two blade-mills
to Simon Perott. (fn. 159) Land and two water-mills here were
conveyed in 1595 by Thomas Gybons and Francis
Gybons and Ursula his wife to Mary Gybons, widow,
and her heirs, (fn. 160) while in 1608 these were leased to
Thomas Fulford and his wife Mary (possibly Mary
Gybons), for her life, at an annual rent of £40. (fn. 161) In
1688 John Batchelor and Elizabeth his wife conveyed
land and four water-mills to John (or James) Watson. (fn. 162)
The mill attached to Windley Pool (at one time
known as New Forge Pool and forming part of the
property attached to the old manor-house site) (fn. 163) was
leased in 1763 by Sir Lister Holte of Aston to Thomas
Parkes of West Bromwich. (fn. 164) His son and successor,
Sir Charles Holte, leased Windley Mill and Pool, and
Keeper's Pool to John Onion. (fn. 165)
MANOR-HOUSE
There was a capital messuage in
Sutton Coldfield in 1315, at least, (fn. 166)
and there was 'a lodge or meane
manor place at Southton on a hille by west [from] the
paroche churche in Erle Richarde's time', (fn. 167) but 'Nevyll,
Erle of Warwike made [as some say] a praty hawle of
tymber there'. (fn. 168) This was presumably where members
of the Mountfort family lived for a time after the lease
of the manor and park to Edmund Mountfort in 1460 (fn. 169)
(see above). Simon Mountfort, lord of Coleshill, who
was attainted under Henry VII, 'had a manor place
here caullid Sutton by Sutton toun'. (fn. 170) His son, Thomas,
was described as 'of Sutton Coldfield', (fn. 171) and so, in 1516,
was Thomas's son Simon. (fn. 172)
This timber hall was pulled down early in the 16th
century (fn. 173) and from at least 1510 until at least 1540 the
site was yielding no rent because it was untenanted. (fn. 174)
Later a farm-house was built there and was inhabited
(c. 1543) by a kinsman of Bishop Veysey. (fn. 175) In 1576,
what was called the manor but was evidently the site
of the manor-house, was conveyed to Thomas Gybons
and Humphrey Chatterton by Thomas Kene and his
wife Sybil, (fn. 176) who may be the Sybil who with her
husband John Bull conveyed the site in 1585 to Edward
Sprott and another, with warranty against her heirs. (fn. 177)
Humphrey Kene alias Keene made a conveyance in
1588 to Simon Perott. (fn. 178) Robert Perott is said to have
held the manor-house, which was carried by his widow
Anne (d. 1597) to her second husband Marmaduke
Dawney (of the Yorkshire family). (fn. 179) In 1648 the site
was conveyed to Thomas Dawney, (fn. 180) possibly the
Thomas who died there in 1671, after which his son
returned to Yorkshire and no longer inhabited the
house. (fn. 181) By 1762 this was in a ruinous condition and
inhabited by a labourer, but the freehold was owned by
Sir Lister Holte of Aston. (fn. 182) At his death in 1770 he left
only a life interest to his brother and heir, Sir Charles
Holte, who died in 1782. Eventually, by the terms of
Sir Lister's will, and by virtue of an Act of Parliament in
1817, the manor-house with mills and pools pertaining,
passed to a surviving legatee, Wriothesley Digby of
Meriden. (fn. 183) His daughter Mary married Hugh Somerville, and their fourth son Lord Somerville was holding
the estate in 1860, by which time he had built a new
house in place of the old one. (fn. 184) He died in 1864 and
his son and heir Hugh in 1868 (unmarried), and after
the death without heirs of the next Lord Somerville,
a cousin, in 1870, (fn. 185) the property passed to Hugh's five
sisters. (fn. 186) Thomas Hayward of the Manor House was
one of the trustees of the town's charities in December
1885. (fn. 187)
MANORS
In the middle of the 13th century Walter
de Bereford held 50 acres in Langley,
'Blackmore', and Brockhurst, all in Sutton,
which he gave to his son Walter. (fn. 188) The younger
Walter's son William de Bereford died in 1326 seised
of the manor of LANGLEY, with a park, pond, and
fishery, held of the Earl of Warwick by service of
42s. 2d. a year. (fn. 189) His son Edmund, described as a
king's clerk, in 1327 had licence to crenellate his house
at Langley. (fn. 190) The manor then passed with that of
Wishaw (q.v.), coming through the family of Hore to
that of Pudsey. (fn. 191) When Robert Pudsey died in 1558
he was holding it of the Warden and Fellowship of
Sutton Coldfield, having settled it in 1555 on his son
George, then a minor. (fn. 192) It descended in the Pudsey
family (fn. 193) until the death of Henry Pudsey in 1677 (fn. 194) when
it appears to have been divided between two of his
daughters, Anne wife of William Jesson (fn. 195) and Elizabeth
wife of Henry, 3rd Baron Folliott of Ballyshannon. (fn. 196)
William Jesson and Anne were dealing with half
the manor in 1695 (fn. 197) and both sisters and their husbands
with the whole manor in 1697, (fn. 198) after which it appears
to have passed entirely to Anne, the younger sister. (fn. 199)

Bereford. Argent crusilly fitchy three fleurs de lis sable.

Pudsey. Vert a cheveron between three molets or.
Anne Jesson is said to have died in 1718 leaving a
son Pudsey Jesson who died in 1748 and was succeeded
by his son William Jesson. (fn. 200) On William's death in
1786 the property was divided between his two
daughters, Hannah Freeman and Elizabeth Pudsey, (fn. 201)
who with their respective husbands, William Pearson
and Thomas Groesbeck Lynch, were dealing with the
manor in 1788. (fn. 202) William Jesson Pearson son of
Hannah and William was dealing with half the manor
in 1808, (fn. 203) and on his death bequeathed his property to
his 'cousin' Mary Holte Bracebridge. (fn. 204) The other
moiety was in the hands of Henry Gratien Lynch in
1816 when he conveyed it to John Stone. (fn. 205)
It seems probable that William Jesson leased the
Langley estate, on the death of his two sons, to Andrew
Hacket of Moxhull (q.v.), (fn. 206) and William Hacket was
in 1794 paying a rent of £1 for the Hall and lands in
Sutton. (fn. 207) Andrew Hacket is said to have bequeathed
the estate in 1815 to George Bowyer Adderley, who
sold it in 1817 to the first Sir Robert Peel. (fn. 208)
Elizabeth, elder sister of Anne Jesson and daughter
of Henry Pudsey of Langley received c. 1696, as part of
her share of her father's property, land in the district
of Four Oaks. (fn. 209) Elizabeth's husband, Henry, Lord
Folliott, died in 1716, while she died in 1742. (fn. 210) Lord
Folliott's heirs were three sisters and a niece, but the
Four Oaks property passed by grant and purchase to
a cousin Colonel, afterwards General, Folliott, who
died in February 1762. (fn. 211) Meanwhile, Simon Luttrell,
afterwards Baron Irnham and Earl of Carhampton, (fn. 212)
had bought the estate and Hall by 1757; he also acquired and inclosed 48 acres of Sutton Park. (fn. 213) He is
said to have sold the estate in 1778 to the Rev. Thomas
Gresley, D.D., after whose death it was sold to Hugh
Bateman. (fn. 214) He sold it in 1792 to Edmund Cradock-Hartopp (fn. 215) of Freathby, co. Leics., who was created a
baronet in 1796 and in whose family Four Oaks Hall
descended until Sir John William Cradock-Hartopp,
4th bart., (fn. 216) sold the estate in 1880 to a limited company
who proposed to hold race-meetings there. (fn. 217) The estate
has now been laid out for building purposes.
Roger Harewell of Moor Hall is mentioned in 1434. (fn. 218)
William Harman lived in a house called Moor or Moor
Hall (fn. 219) and his son John, the future John Veysey alias
Harman, Bishop of Exeter, was probably born there
c. 1465. (fn. 220) In 1517 the bishop acquired from the king
about 4 acres of waste called 'le Moreheth', adjoining
his orchard on the north, and another acre nearby, in
which he made two pools. (fn. 221) In 1527 he secured
parcels of inclosure known as Moor Crofts and Heath
Yards, with about 40 acres of waste, (fn. 222) and there built
a new mansion of Moor Hall. (fn. 223) Bishop Veysey died
in 1554, (fn. 224) his heir being his nephew John Harman
(son of his brother Hugh, described as of Moor Hall, (fn. 225)
who died in 1528), (fn. 226) who was holding Moor Hall in
1557 and 1559. (fn. 227) It was probably this John who sold
the capital messuage of MOOR HALL, with other
tenements in Sutton Coldfield, to John Richardson, who
died seised of it in 1584, leaving an infant son and heir,
William. (fn. 228)

Cradock-Hartopp. Quarterly: 1 and 4, Sable a cheveron ermine between three otters passant argent; 2 and 3, Party saltirewise gules and argent crusilly and three boars' heads all counterchanged.

Harman, of Moor Hall. Argent a cross sable with a hart's head cut off at the neck between four martlets argent thereon.
Sir Hugh Brawne of Poole Hall, died seised of the
capital messuage in 1615; (fn. 229) his son Richard was granted
free warren in his demesne lands here in 1617 (fn. 230) and
in 1623 sold the messuage to Gawen Grosvenor. (fn. 231)
Fulke 'Gravener' was holding it in 1628 (fn. 232) and his son
Leicester Grosvenor was subsequently described as of
Moor Hall. (fn. 233)
John Addyes was holding Moor Hall in 1671 (fn. 234) and
a John Addyes died seised of it in 1766. (fn. 235) He was
succeeded by his great-nephew John Hacket (second
son of Andrew Hacket of Moxhull in Wishaw). (fn. 236) John
Hacket took the additional surname of Addyes and died
in 1810, leaving the estate to his nephew Francis
Benyon Hacket (second son of his elder brother
Andrew), who died in 1863 and was succeeded by his
grandson George Algernon Benyon Disney Hacket.
He died in 1904 and his eldest son, Lt.-Col. John Lisle
Hacket, sold the Moor Hall estate in 1920. (fn. 237)
New Hall in Sutton is said to have been granted by
William de Sutton of Warwick c. 1327 to Robert de
Sutton, who in 1340 conveyed it to Thomas de Beauchamp, presumably his overlord, and to Sir John de
Lizours of Fledborough, co. Notts., and his heirs. (fn. 238)
Sir John died in 1361 holding a messuage and land
here of the Earl of Warwick, (fn. 239) which were later taken
at farm by Richard Cole, chaplain. (fn. 240) Sir John's son
James was dead by 1370 leaving an infant son John, (fn. 241)
but New Hall evidently passed with Fledborough to
the Bassets of Normanton, co. Notts. (fn. 242) William Basset
son of Thomas conveyed it with other possessions in
1428 to Sir Richard Stanhope. (fn. 243)
NEW HALL
NEW HALL is said to have been described as a
manor in 1435 by the homage in a court baron at Sutton
after Sir Richard Stanhope's death, when, it was stated,
he held it of the Earl of Warwick by service of 10s. 10d.
a year. (fn. 244) He left a son and heir James, but in 1442
Katherine, widow of William Basset the younger of
Fledborough (and sister of Richard Stanhope), (fn. 245)
demised New Hall for 21 years to William Deping of
Sutton and Richard Lee of Maney. (fn. 246)
Thomas Gibbons is said to have bought New Hall
in 1552. (fn. 247) In 1610 Thomas and Edward Gibbons
conveyed the manor (with a water-mill) to Henry
Sacheverell. (fn. 248) He died in 1620, (fn. 249) and New Hall
passed to his son Valence Sacheverell (fn. 250) and then to
George, eldest son of Valence, who died without issue
in 1715. (fn. 251) George Sacheverell bequeathed it to his
great-nephew, Charles Chadwick, who assumed the
surname of Sacheverell (fn. 252) and who, in 1739, mortgaged
his New Hall estate to Francis Horton of Wolverhampton. (fn. 253) On his death, in 1779, New Hall passed to his
sister Dorothy who died unmarried in 1784, and bequeathed the manor to Charles Chadwick son of her
half-brother John. (fn. 254) His son Hugo Mavesyn Chadwick (who had succeeded him in 1829) was followed
in 1854 by his son John de Heley Mavesyn Chadwick,
who died in 1897 (fn. 255) and whose mortgagees were holding
New Hall in 1892 and 1900, when it was used as a
school. (fn. 256) Mrs. Owen was tenant in 1936. (fn. 257)

Sacheverell. Argent a saltire azure charged with five water-bougets or.

Chadwick. Gules a scutcheon in an orle of martlets argent.
A manor of PEDDIMORE is first heard of c. 1281
when it was conveyed by Thomas de Arden of Ratley
to Hugh de Vienna, (fn. 258) as feoffee, and then to Thomas
de Arden of Hanwell, co. Oxon., and Rose his wife
along with Curdworth. (fn. 259) This land was presumably
given to the Arden family by one of the Earls of Warwick. (fn. 260) William de Beauchamp gave Thomas and his
heirs the right to fish in the little stream called 'Ebroch'
(now Plant's Brook) so far as his lands lay adjacent
thereto. (fn. 261) He gave them also privileges within Sutton
Chase, including pannage, and the right to take timber
to repair buildings within the manors of Peddimore
and Curdworth and also to sell twenty pounds' worth. (fn. 262)
From this time Peddimore presumably descended
with Curdworth (q.v.) in the Arden family. (fn. 263) John
Arden died seised of a capital messuage here in 1526
and was succeeded by his son Thomas. (fn. 264) Thomas's
younger grandson Francis was described as 'of Pedmore' in 1619. (fn. 265)
The manor subsequently came into the possession
of the Addyes family and in 1768 was conveyed by
William Perkins and Anna Maria his wife to Mary
Addyes, spinster, (fn. 266) daughter and heir of Thomas
Addyes. (fn. 267) She died unmarried in 1786 and bequeathed
her lands here to her cousin Anne, wife of William
Scott of Stourbridge, (fn. 268) who bequeathed them to a
nephew of her husband, John Scott. (fn. 269) His daughter
and heir Mary Scott married in 1830 the Rev. Charles
Wellbeloved of York, who took the surname of Scott. (fn. 270)
The manor of POOL HALL is first heard of in
1581 (fn. 271) and 1582 when William Charnells of Snareston, co. Leics., and Meriella his wife (fn. 272) leased it for
20 years to Henry Goodere of Polesworth. (fn. 273) In 1583
Goodere conveyed his rights to John Aylmer, Bishop of
London. (fn. 274) The bishop died in 1594 (fn. 275) and the manor
was conveyed by Samuel and Zachariah Aylmer,
probably his sons, (fn. 276) to Robert Burdett, in 1598. (fn. 277)
Sir Hugh Brawne acquired the rights of William
Charnells and his son Edward
in the manor (fn. 278) and died seised of
it in 1615. (fn. 279) Richard Brawne,
then aged 19, succeeded his
father (fn. 280) and in 1617 was granted
free warren in his demesne lands
here. (fn. 281) In 1633 Sir Richard and
his wife Theodosia conveyed the
manor to John Keyt of Ebrington,
co. Gloucs. (fn. 282) From him it passed,
presumably, to his son Sir John,
the first baronet (created 1660),
who died in 1662, (fn. 283) and whose
younger son Thomas bequeathed
it to his nephew William Keyt,
3rd but last surviving son of Sir William, the 2nd
baronet. (fn. 284) William Keyt died in October 1702 (before
his father), and bequeathed the manor to his widow
Agnes (daughter of Sir John Clopton of Clopton) and
her heirs and assigns, (fn. 285) but the will was immediately
contested by their eldest son Sir William, (fn. 286) who had
succeeded his grandfather on 30 November 1702. (fn. 287)

Keyt. Azure a cheveron between three kites' heads or with three trefoils gules on the cheveron.
In 1764 the manor was conveyed by Joseph Collett
and Dorothy his wife and John Parker and Rhoda his
wife to John Mills. (fn. 288) In 1794 Mrs. Orton was paying
2s. rent for Pool Hall and land in Sutton Coldfield. (fn. 289)
A park called Frithes, a moor adjoining, called
Hollingworthes, and a messuage called the Kingeshouse pertained to the manor in 1615. (fn. 290)
Three virgates of land in 'Winchicelle', with woodland two furlongs square attached, were held in 1086
by Bruning of Turchil, (fn. 291) and the overlordship subsequently passed to the Earls of Warwick, (fn. 292) who held
it at least until 1407. (fn. 293) In 1403 this ¼ knight's fee was
given to Margaret, widow of Thomas, Earl of Warwick, in dower. (fn. 294)
William Bonchevaler held Wiggins Hill in 1235,
together with Cherington and Bedsworth Farm (in
Tanworth) as one knight's fee. (fn. 295) In 1239 Bartholomew
de Turbervill conveyed 3 carucates of land in Cherington and Wiggins Hill to William son of Ralph de Wylinton, (fn. 296) who was holding one fee in these two places in
1242. (fn. 297) John de Wylington held the fee in 1315, (fn. 298) but
by 1347 he appears to have subinfeudated it, so that
Wiggins Hill was then held as ¼ knight's fee by William
de Lucy of John de Hull, who himself held of John de
Wylinton. (fn. 299) Baldwin de Bereford held it in about 1362, (fn. 300)
along with Langley (q.v.), with which it descended, as ¼
fee, to John Hore, who held 3 messuages here in 1431. (fn. 301)
Subsequently Robert Pudsey sold these messuages to
Thomas Gibbons of New Hall but reserved an ancient
rent of 46s. 2½d. to himself and his heirs. (fn. 302) In 1589
WIGGINS HILL, here first called a manor, was
conveyed by Thomas and Francis Gibbons to Edward
Burrowes, (fn. 303) who in 1596 conveyed it to Nicholas
Wilson. (fn. 304) It would appear that it was later divided,
possibly between two co-heiresses, one of whom may
have been represented by Anne wife of Nicholas Wolley,
and Mary wife of John James since they, along with
Robert Milner and Anne (probably daughter of Anne
Wolley) and Edward Crompton and Mary (probably
daughter of Mary James) conveyed half the manor in
1691 to John Addyes, Thomas Homer, and Anne
Burgoyne widow. (fn. 305) These three probably represented
the other co-heiress since the whole manor was conveyed in 1766 by Mary Homer, widow, Richard Pitts
and Mary his wife, Elizabeth Homer, spinster, and
Edward Felton and Jane his wife, to Richard Geast. (fn. 306)
CHURCH
The parish church of HOLY TRINITY,
stands on a rise to the east of the junction
of the High Street with the Erdington-Birmingham Road and consists of a chancel, north and
south chapels, nave, two north aisles, south aisle, south
porch, and west tower. There are modern vestries
east and west of the outer north aisle.
The church is of early-13th-century origin, but the
only identifiable detail in the masonry is in the lower
part of the east wall of the chancel; this has an early
plinth and remains of shallow clasping buttresses. The
nave was probably shorter than the present nave. There
is no material evidence of enlargements before the end
of the 15th century, to which date the west tower may
be allocated: probably the nave was then also lengthened.
The north and south chapels and nave-aisles were added
by Bishop Veysey. The date 1533 is recorded for the
aisles; the chapels may have preceded them by a few
years, showing some difference of detail. (fn. 307) Whether
the clearstory to the nave was raised at the same time
or subsequently is not evident from the masonry, which
is modern. Part of the nave is said to have collapsed
in 1759 and to have been rebuilt by the corporation in
1760. How much was involved in the fall is not
certain, but apparently the two arcades were rebuilt
with the old material. Perhaps the clearstory was then
added, but packing or filling-in around the extradoses
of the round arches suggests that the superincumbent
walling had not given way and the arches were rebuilt
below it. The roofs were probably reconstructed at the
same time, but they were renewed in 1863.
The outer north aisle and vestries were added 1874–9
and much restoration has been carried out since then, especially in 1929, when the south wall was renovated, the
Veysey chapel refurnished and redecorated, and other
work done. Galleries of 1760 were built in the aisles
and at the west end of the nave and later galleries were
set in both chapels. That of the south aisle still remains,
the others have been removed, but there are modern
galleries at the west end of the inner north aisle and
along the outer north aisle. The south porch was added
probably in 1533 or soon afterwards.
The chancel (about 28 ft. by 18 ft.) has an east
window of five lights and tracery in a four-centred
head, probably of 15th-century origin, but all restored.
Above it in the gable-head is a small pointed blocked
light or niche. On the north and south sides are arcades
of two bays of c. 1530. The piers are composed of
four round shafts divided by hollow chamfers and the
responds match. The capitals are of unusual form; in
section they are slightly ogee-curved with flat fillets as
abaci and neck-moulds. Those to the piers have also
intermediate bands; on the northern are pendant
shields and others reversed, in no regular order. In plan
they follow approximately the forms of the piers and
responds. The arches are semicircular and are moulded
like the piers with rounds and hollows. The chancel
arch has plain splayed responds and semicircular head
with moulded capitals at the springing-level. The
modern roof is gabled and has a barrel-vaulted ceiling.
The north chapel (the Veysey Chapel), in line with
the chancel and 16 ft. wide, has an east window of four
plain lights below a four-centred head; the jambs are
moulded externally. The masonry is largely modern.
Below and south of it against the chancel wall is a
blocked pointed doorway, said to have been the entrance to a gallery-stair. In the north wall is a priests'
doorway with moulded jambs and four-centred head:
in it is an ancient nail-studded oak door with ribs
planted on the face and hung with strap-hinges with
ornamental ends. It opens from a modern porch.
Above it is a window of three four-centred lights
under a square head, all restored. There is no west
arch.

Plan of Sutton Coldfield Church.
The south chapel, 13 ft. wide, has a similar east
window but mostly ancient, and there is also a blocked
doorway like the other against the chancel buttress: the
external steps up to it still remain. In the south wall
are two 16th-century windows, each of three four-centred lights under a square head; the jambs are
moulded like those of the east window. There is no
west arch.
The gabled east wall of the chancel is of modern
red sandstone ashlar and has a plain string-course below
the window. But the plinth is of early-13th-century
date, with a series of four chamfered courses capped
by a roll-mould, and at the angles are the remains of
shallow clasping buttresses of the same period. Against
them are built the 16th-century buttresses of the chapels.
In the main wall above these buttresses are small glazed
windows with round heads, but what they lighted is
not evident from below. The walls of the chapels are
of old red sandstone ashlar and have chamfered plinths
and embattled parapets.
Both chapels have modern flat roofs, the northern
with an ornate painted ceiling.
The nave (about 58 ft. by 19 ft.) has north and south
arcades of five bays. The three eastern are 12-ft. bays,
the two western, 9-ft. bays; the pillars are octagonal
with hollow-chamfered bases, and capitals moulded
like those of the chancel arch. They have all been
retooled or restored. The arches, of a single chamfered
order, are semicircular. The walls above are of squared
red sandstone, retooled but ancient. Around the
extradoses of the arches are more or less concentric rings
of jointing in the masonry varying from 1 in. to 4 in.
as though there had been packing after the dressed
voussoirs had been rebuilt in place. The base of the
westernmost pillar in the south arcade (i.e. the middle
pillar of the two narrower bays) has on its north side a
projection of the same height as the base, indicating
that there was once a low cross wall to the nave.
Both east and west end walls are canted westwards
from north to south.
The clearstory has five windows each side, each of
two wide pointed lights under a square head. The
masonry is modern. The gabled roof, also modern,
has hammer-beam trusses forming five bays.
The south aisle (13 ft. wide) has three south windows of two lights and tracery in two-centred heads;
the easternmost is recessed down to the floor. The
westernmost was originally a three-light window, of
which the western light is blocked. The south doorway may be of the 14th century, reset from the nave
wall. It has chamfered jambs and a two-centred head
of one chamfered order with a hood-mould; there is a
later rebate cut in the chamfer for a former door flush
with the outer face. The present door is farther in and
is ancient. It is of vertical and horizontal battens, nailstudded, and having nail heads picking out the letters
TA TM CW and the date 1704. In the west wall is a
window of two round-headed lights under a square
main head. It is of two chamfered orders, the inner
modern, the outer old. It was formerly of three lights,
but here, as in the south-west window, one light was
walled up to accommodate the splayed monument to
George Sacheverell (d. 1715).
The south and west walls are of coursed ashlar
coarsely tooled and have old string-courses at the top,
but the embattled parapets have been restored. Below
the west window the masonry is irregular, suggesting
a former doorway there. While the modern stonework
of the south windows is set plumb vertical the wall
leans outward and the masonry has been chipped back
around the window-heads. In the west wall near the
tower is a higher small two-light window for a gallery,
which extends to a short way within the south chapel;
the stair is east of the south doorway. The plastered
ceiling is similar to that of the chapel.
The inner north aisle (16½ ft. wide), has a modern
north arcade of five similar bays. In the west wall is a
tall window of four cinquefoiled ogee-headed lights
and vertical tracery in a four-centred head, all restored.
A west gallery cuts across the middle of it, and is
reached by a curved staircase rising from under the
tower archway. The aisle has a modern low-pitched
gabled roof of five bays.
The modern outer north aisle (12 ft. wide) is lighted
by an east and four north windows and has east and west
doorways into the vestries. The roof is gabled.
The west tower (about 13½ ft. square) is of three
stages divided by moulded string-courses. The walls
are of coursed ashlar and have a high plinth with a
moulded top member. The parapet is embattled. The
tower must lean a little to the north as a hollow chase
cut in the bottom of the north wall to serve a clock-weight diminishes in depth upwards. At the angles are
diagonal buttresses reaching nearly to the parapet.
The archway to the nave is of two chamfered orders
continued in the two-centred head. The inner order
has moulded bases and capitals. Above the arch are
the marks of the former nearly flat ceiling or roof of the
nave. The inner faces of the walls are of smooth ashlar.
In the south-west angle is a stair-vice entered by a four-centred doorway; a former doorway through the south
wall is now walled up. In the north wall is a modern
doorway to the vestry. The tower floor is six steps up
from the nave floor.
The west doorway has jambs and pointed head of
two hollow-chamfered orders with a modern external
hood-mould. The doorway was probably reset in the
18th century and its face sets back 3 in. from the main
wall face, which has large 16th-century voussoirs above
the door-head. The west window above is of three
cinquefoiled ogee-lights and vertical tracery in a two-centred head with a hood-mould. The masonry is
mostly modern. The ancient moulded string-course
marking the stage is dropped about 15 in. for its sill.
At the top of the second stage is a rectangular light in
the west wall and the upper string-course is lifted over
it to form a hood-mould. In the north wall a smaller
light is similarly treated. The bell-chamber has windows of two trefoiled ogee-lights and a quatrefoil in a
two-centred head; the jambs are casement-moulded.
The parapet, probably of 18th-century restoration,
has original grotesque spouts. Above the vice, behind
the parapet, rises a stone eight-sided pyramidal roof
with crockets and finial. The tower has a tiled pyramidal roof.
The south porch was of early-16th-century timberframing, but has been rebuilt with the retention of a
few original details, including carved spandrels and
keyblock to the four-centred head. The carving is a
vine pattern to the eastern and a rose to the western
spandrel, on both faces and double-roses on the keyblock.
There is no ancient fixed glass, but suspended from
a saddle bar in the south-east window of the south aisle
is a late-17th-century cartouche, probably Flemish,
with the incomplete figure of a bearded bishop in a
mitre and mass vestments, and apparently holding a
quill pen.
The font has a circular slightly cup-shaped bowl of
the 12th century. The lower half is faced with an
interlacing arcade in low relief. At the top are four
prominently projecting grotesque heads with straps in
their mouths issuing at the sides and meeting each side
in pairs of leaves. The top edge has indent ornament.
The font belonged to the church of Over Whitacre
and was turned out when that church was rebuilt in
the 18th century. After being degraded to various uses
it was recovered in 1856 and presented to Sutton
Coldfield.
The pulpit dates from c. 1760. It has a hexagonal
tub with carved and inlaid sides, standing on a central
post. Over it is a sounding board also inlaid and with
carved mouldings, and supported by slender Ionic
posts. On it is a dome with open fretwork ornament
and surmounted by a flying dove.
Between the chancel and north chapel is a mid-17th-century oak screen, said to have been part of an organcase and quire seats in Worcester Cathedral, discarded
by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1878. It is of Italian Renaissance
design and has seven bays and a doorway. The closed
lower panels have carved round arches and are divided
by Corinthian shafts that support carved consoles at the
middle rail. The open bays above are divided by fluted
and carved shafts with moulded and carved capitals
which carry the carved entablature and cornice. The
soffits of the entablature are treated with pendant swag
ornament. A screen on the south side is similar except
that the closed panels are modern.
A low screen in the south half of the chancel arch
has two bays of 17th-century work with pierced carvings and frieze of scroll work with middle shields. The
west screen of the south chapel, of 1891, incorporates
some pieces of 17th-century carving and turned legs
from a former communion table. A screen across the
tower archway contains two carved posts and a frieze
of dolphins, brought from Valetta.
The west entrance has an internal lobby partly
made up of 17th-century woodwork from Worcester
Cathedral and St. Michael's Church, Coventry, including round shafts with Corinthian capitals and, above
them, silhouette carvings of a lion, unicorn, and two
winged monsters.
In the church are two 17th-century chairs with
carved backs.
On the north wall of the north chapel at the east
end is a 19½-in. brass effigy of Barbara daughter of
Raphael Simonds and wife of the Rev. Roger Eliot,
rector, died 1606, aged 24. She is dressed in Elizabethan costume, with the standing figures of a son and a
daughter. On the opposite wall is the 16-in. brass of
Josias Bull, died 1621, aged 50; he also wears Elizabethan costume; on separate plates are a shield of arms
and figures of four sons and a daughter. A large slab
in the chapel floor has the indents of brasses of three
figures in grave clothes set within a canopy that had a
foiled head and crocketed finials, and pilasters also with
crockets; it commemorated Hugh Harman alias Veysey
(d. 1528) and his two wives. (fn. 308)
On the north side of the chapel is the altar tomb with
the recumbent effigy of Bishop Veysey. He wears a
mitre and mass vestments, and holds a pastoral staff. The
effigy is original but has been renovated and recoloured.
It was formerly in a recess protected by an iron railing
(now the porch gates) and in 1876 was placed on the
present base. The inscription on the base is probably
of the 17th century and describes him as John Harman
or Vesey who died in his 103rd year, (fn. 309) 1555. The
monument was erected by Sir John Wyrley of Hampstead in Handsworth, Staffs., in memory of his great-uncle the bishop, and was repaired and beautified by
the corporation in 1748. The inscription records that
the bishop 'procured the town to be incorporate by
name of Warden and Society of Kings Town of Sutton
Coldfield' and that he built '2 isles to the church and
an organ, erected a Moot Hall with a prison below,
a market place, 51 stone houses, 2 stone bridges, one at
Curdworth and one at Water Orton, paved the whole
town and endowed a free grammar school'. On the
east wall above the tomb is a carved achievement of
the Tudor Royal arms with greyhound and dragon
supporters, a crown and motto DOMINVS MIHI ADIVTOR
and below it the bishop's own arms.
Farther west against the north wall is a floor monument to Henry Pudsey, died 1667, aged 45, the monument being erected by Jane his widow. In a draped recess
are their busts.
In the south-east angle is a black and white marble
monument to William Jesson of Langley, died 1725,
and Anna his wife, died 1719.
In the south-west angle of the south aisle is an
alabaster mural monument to George Sacheverell of
New Hall, died 1715, aged 83. (fn. 310)
There are three bells of 1795 and five of 1884.
Among the ancient table tombs in the churchyard is
one to Thomas Dawnay 1671. A copper sun-dial on a
baluster pedestal is dated 1761, by J. Snape.
ADVOWSONS
The church of Sutton Coldfield
descended with the manor, except
that William de Beauchamp retained
it in 1287 when he gave the manor to Ela, Countess of
Warwick, in dower, (fn. 311) and presentation was frequently
made by the Crown during the minorities of Beauchamp heirs. (fn. 312) The advowson passed (with the manor)
to the Crown, in whose hands it remained (fn. 313) until
Elizabeth sold it in 1559 to John Glascocke of the
Inner Temple and Richard Blounte of London (fn. 314) and
they to Thomas Gibbons of New Hall (q.v.). (fn. 315) Thomas
and Francis Gibbons conveyed it in 1589 to John
Shilton. (fn. 316) From 1617 to 1689 presentations were
made by members of the Shilton family, (fn. 317) but in 1710
the advowson was bought by the incumbent, John
Riland of Over Quinton, Gloucs., who had married
Katherine Shilton, and in whose family it descended. (fn. 318)
The Rev. W. K. Riland Bedford was patron in
1850 (fn. 319) and his trustees until 1905. (fn. 320) Since 1906 the
patronage has been in the hands of the Bishop of
Birmingham. (fn. 321)
In 1291 the church was valued at 20 marks (fn. 322) and
in 1535 at £33 9s. 0d., over and above 12s. for procurations and synodals. (fn. 323) Down to at least 1536 2s. 6d.
was paid annually from the manor to the Rector of
Sutton Coldfield. (fn. 324)
The RECTORY descended with the advowson
until 1907, when the Rev. W. C. R. Bedford, then
rector, transferred it to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (fn. 325) on the understanding that his successors, as
incumbents of Sutton Coldfield should receive a salary
of £700 with an allowance of £50 a year until a new
house had been provided, (fn. 326) while the residue of the
proceeds of the rectory should be applied to the development of the land transferred to the Commissioners,
to the incomes of incumbents of parishes newly formed
from Sutton Coldfield, and to the provision or improvement of their houses. The Act further provided
that the patronage of any new district or parish formed
out of Sutton Coldfield to which the Commissioners
should make a grant, should be vested in the Bishop of
Birmingham.
A CHANTRY in the church of Sutton Coldfield was
founded by Thomas Broadmeadow for one priest to
sing mass for his soul and those of his parents. (fn. 327) Richard
Colet, who had been appointed by the Earl of Warwick,
was chantry priest in 1366. (fn. 328) The chantry was worth
106s. 8d. in lands and tenements in 1535. (fn. 329) William
Priest was then custos cantarie, (fn. 330) and was said still to
be receiving a pension of £5 in 1553. (fn. 331) By 1549 this
chantry had been suppressed, and its lands, in Over
Whitacre, Coventry, and elsewhere, were sold to
Thomas Fyssher and Thomas Dabrigecourte. (fn. 332)
A FREE CHAPEL, dedicated to St. Blaise, in the
manor of Sutton Coldfield, was already in existence in
1328 when the king presented one of his clerks, Thomas
de Hampton, during the minority of the heir of Guy de
Beauchamp. (fn. 333) In 1441 John Hermon or Harman was
appointed chaplain by Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, and the appointment was confirmed in 1471 by
George, Duke of Clarence. (fn. 334) In 1495 Henry VII
appointed the great John Harman or Veysey, perhaps
a nephew of the earlier John, to be chaplain for life. (fn. 335)
In 1519 the king presented Hugh Pole (fn. 336) and in 1530
Richard Manchester. (fn. 337) The stipend of the chaplain,
from time out of mind and at least to Michaelmas 1536,
was 33s. 4d. (fn. 338)
The separate ecclesiastical parish of WALMLEY
was created in 1845 (fn. 339) and the patrons were the Rev. J.
and Miss Riland. (fn. 340) Miss Riland alone was patron in
1859, (fn. 341) and Q. C. Colmore in 1900. (fn. 342) Since at least
1920 the patronage has been in the hands of trustees. (fn. 343)
The parish of St. James in Sutton Coldfield, the
vicarage of which in 1849 was in the gift of the rector
of Sutton Coldfield, (fn. 344) was in 1853 turned into the
ecclesiastical parish of HILL. (fn. 345) The patron was the
rector of Sutton Coldfield down to at least 1900, (fn. 346) but
by 1915 the Bishop of Birmingham had acquired it (fn. 347)
and still presents. (fn. 348)
The ecclesiastical parish of FOUR OAKS was
separated in 1920 from Hill, with the Bishop of
Birmingham as patron. (fn. 349)
The parish of St. Michael in Sutton Coldfield was
formed into the ecclesiastical parish of BOLDMERE
in 1857. (fn. 350) The patron was the rector of Sutton Coldfield, (fn. 351) but by 1936 the advowson had passed to the
Birmingham Diocesan Trustees, Registered. (fn. 352)
The church of WYLDE GREEN was in Boldmere
until 1923, when a separate ecclesiastical parish was
created. (fn. 353) The Bishop of Birmingham holds the
patronage. (fn. 354)
The parish of St. Peter, MANEY, was created a
separate ecclesiastical parish in 1907 and the living is
in the gift of the Bishop of Birmingham. (fn. 355)
CHARITIES
The municipal Charities.
A Scheme
of the Charity Commissioners of 23
June 1905 directed that one moiety
of the net income of the Corporation Charity (comprised in a Scheme of the High Court of Chancery
approved on 14 May 1825) together with the several
almshouse buildings belonging to the charity should
constitute the endowment of the Corporation Almshouse Eleemosynary Charity. The income amounting
to about £1,700 is applied in the maintenance of the
almshouses, the payment of stipends to the almspeople,
and in the following yearly payments: (1) A sum of
£96 for marriage portions for poor maidens of good
character long resident in Sutton Coldfield. (2) A
sum of £35 for women resident in Sutton Coldfield at
the time of their confinement, to be paid to the beneficiaries or to a Maternity Society. (3) A sum of £165
for clothing for the children of necessitous residents.
Any residue to be applied for the poor of Sutton Coldfield generally as set out under various heads, including
the payment of pensions.
Francis Lingard by will proved 14 April 1897
bequeathed £2,700 to the Trustees of the Municipal
Charities for the erection and endowment of additional
almshouses on land at Walmley. Two almshouses
were duly erected and the balance of the legacy
invested in ground rents, which produce about £69
per annum.
The Lord's Meadow Charity (or The Widows'
Acre). The endowment of this charity, founded by
Bishop Veysey, (fn. 356) formerly consisted of 12 acres known
as Lord's Meadow, which was divided into 15 portions
appropriated to the use of 15 poor widows of the parish.
The land was exchanged for other land, now let at
£26 10s. This sum, together with dividends amounting to £9 17s. 8d., is distributed to poor widows.
Thomas Jesson's Charity.
In 1907 land at Sutton
Coldfield containing 15 acres called Five Sidalls was
conveyed to trustees to pay a yearly sum of 40s. to the
poor of the parish and to apply the residue of the
profits in apprenticing poor children. The income
amounts to about £70 per annum.
The above-mentioned charities are regulated by the
said Schemes of 25 January 1898 and 23 June 1905
under the title of the Municipal Charities, administered
by 16 trustees.
Clara Fowler by will proved 6 August 1935 gave
to the Trustees of the Municipal Charities £1,000 to
apply the income, now amounting to £45, in providing
a pension for one deserving widow who has lived in
Sutton Coldfield for at least 10 years.
John Wilkins by deed dated 1707 gave a piece of
ground lying in Hill called Sharrat Field and appointed
trustees to employ the issues in distributing Bibles,
Prayer Books, &c., to poor children and others. The
land was sold for £150 in 1922 and the proceeds invested, and the interest is distributed to the poor of the
parish.
Charities of Sedgwick and others: Raphael Sedgwick
by will dated 8 April 1665 gave £5 to the churchwardens and overseers of the parish, the interest to be
distributed in bread among the most needful poor.
Nicholas Dolphin by will left £20, the interest to be
annually distributed to the poor by the rector. Mrs.
Mary Jenks by will dated 28 September 1750 gave to
the minister and churchwardens £50, the interest to be
similarly distributed. William Beakesley by will dated
11 January 1803 gave £5 to the rector, the interest to be
distributed in bread to the poor. Mrs. Jesson by will
left the interest of £10 annually to the poor.
The above-mentioned sums, amounting to £90, are
now represented by £99 6s. 2d. Consols and the
interest, amounting to £2 9s. 8d., is distributed to the
poor of the parish. The charities are administered by
the churchwardens.
The Sacheverell Doles: Valence Sacheverell by will
gave to the poor of Sutton Coldfield 20s. yearly, to be
paid out of his messuage in Great Sutton; and George
Sacheverell by will in 1715 gave £5 per annum, to be
paid out of his messuage and lands in the parish to be
distributed in bread to poor widows. The rent-charges
issuing out of the New Hall Estate were redeemed in
1903 in consideration of stock producing £6 per annum,
which is applied to the relief of the poor.
Thomas Cooper by will in 1687 gave two parcels of
land called Pit Close and Long Leasow, the rents to be
yearly distributed amongst the poor by the rector and
churchwardens. The land was exchanged for other
land which was sold in 1890 and the proceeds invested,
producing £10 6s. 4d.